After a 35-year span of racing and riding all sorts of two wheelers, I can definitely say that I still can’t get enough of the thrill I get every time I throw my leg over a saddle. During the last 10 months, though, I have found new passion on two wheels. This passion is based on a bike that is simple, light, and easy to maintain. This bike has one gear choice; and that limited, narrowly defined choice is what has remade the bike into a truly new passion for me.

Hi! This is Mari Holden. I’ve been a professional cyclist for the past 16 years and I just retired last year. I’ve had a long endurance-sports career. Before cycling, I raced triathlons in the late 80’s. I switched to cycling in 1992. As a junior triathlete, I was awarded Junior Woman of the Year by Triathlete Magazine. In cycling, my best results came in 2000 when I won an Olympic Silver and World Championship in the Time Trial. Along the way, I won 6 National Championships (road and time trial) and set a national record in the 40K Time Trial. What I have learned about time trialing over the years can help you as you prepare for your next time trial or triathlon.

Six pace-busters to get you moving faster in the water.

Do your non-cycling friends think you’re overly ambitious (or insane) when you tell them you’re going to ride 100 miles in a day? Well try telling them that you’re going to compete in a 750-mile ride—with a time limit.

What used to be a season-ending injury is now a lesser frustration. 

Most of the runners that I work with don’t have specific time goals. This is fine. Running is a free-form activity that empowers you to choose from a variety of training programs, races and enriching running experiences. There are occasions, however, when having a time goal can be very rewarding. If you want to train for a specific time goal this year, keep in mind the following tips that can help you stay focused and motivated — even when the watch doesn’t say what you want it to say.
Photo: John Segesta

I found myself standing atop a 400-FOOT WATERFALL listening to the cheers of encouragement from my fellow teammates as I got set to REPEL DOWN INTO A NARROW CANYON where I could barely see the ground below me. This was just one of the obstacles presented to me on my latest multi-sport adventure.

The following is a five-month Half Ironman training program to ramp up for a Half Ironman Triathlon. Shown below are mileage expectations for the build up period leading up to the race. Doing the mileage described probably won’t be enough to qualify you for Hawaii, but it will provide you with a solid foundation for a great racing experience. This is a general guideline. Depending on your skill sets, you will need to make some adjustments. For instance, if you are aquatically challenged, then you will need to do more yards than I have shown.

Running can bring an amazing blend of benefits: a great attitude, more vitality, clear thinking, a unique sense of freedom and a genuine sense of accomplishment. Most runners feel so positive about these benefits that they influence at least 10 other people a year to hop on the running bandwagon. If you’re one of these people and are thinking about taking up the sport but don’t quite know how to go about it, read on. With the following 10 tips, I’ve taken a conservative approach to get you started so that you ease into it and avoid any aches and pains. If you stick with it, you just may find yourself getting hooked on running.

It’s difficult to put into words the feeling of reaching the summit of a 14,000-foot peak, but a common response when asked is, “It is something you have to do.”